News

Thieves steal four border terriers from kennels at Riddlesden

People are being warned to be vigilant if approached by anyone selling dogs after four border terriers were stolen.

Mark Jones and his partner Andrea Jones, of Riddlesden, Keighley, say the dogs were taken from their kennels, in the garden of their house.

Miss Jones, 43, who is a trainee nurse, said: “I can’t describe how we feel, I don’t know where to start. My partner has been breeding and showing dogs for about 10 years and he puts his heart and soul into looking after them.

“The dogs that were stolen are friendly, but now they’re away from their home environment they will be frightened.

“As a rule they are noisy dogs, but we didn’t hear anything that night.”

She said the border terriers included four-year-old female Cleo, her two and a half year old offspring Bolt, who is male, and Poppy a pregnant female. The fourth stolen border terrier is an unrelated two-year-old male called Romsey.

Miss Jones said Cleo is “quite petite” for her breed and Bolt has a distinctive white paw.

The dogs were taken some time between 11pm last Tuesday and 6.15am last Wednesday.

The couple set up a Facebook page called Please help find our stolen border terriers, which had attracted more than 1,050 likes by Friday lunchtime.

In a statement on the page, Miss Jones said: “Mark and I are overwhelmed by the support shown. I’ve been advised that the dogs may have been separated to draw attention away from them.

“Please be vigilant for individuals that have recently acquired adult borders.

“We desperately want them back in their home, a safe environment with people they know and trust.”

She said the thieves would have used a vehicle and were able to get through two gates to reach the dog kennels, including one gate secured by a coded keypad.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed the theft was under investigation.

Sergeant Alex Alderson, of Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We appeal for anyone who might have been approached by someone selling these dogs to contact us on 101 or the Crimestoppers number 0800 555111."